Dual conductor terminal



Aug. 2, 1960 R. F. WALDROP 2,947,967

DUAL CONDUCTOR TERMINAL Filed Jan. 14, 1957 14 7'7'0RNEK 7 DUALCONDUCTOR TERMINAL Robert F. Waldrop, Mission Hills, Kans., assignmtoMilbank Manufacturing Co., Inc., Kokomo, Ind., a corporation of IndianaFiled Jan. 14, 1957, Ser. No. 633,876

Claims. (Cl. 339-272) This invention relates to electrical terminals andrefers more particularly to a dual conductor terminal mountable in anelectric meter socket to provide a common terminal for the groundconductors of the load end feeder lines.

In present day meter socket installations a source of ratherconsiderable difficulty has been in providing suitable terminalconnections in the meter socket for the ground conductors of the loadend feeder lines. Since the socket casing ordinarily is a part of theground circuit, a common terminal for both conductors is considered thebest. is a difference in diameter between the ground conductors of therespective lines, the problem of obtaining a firm and permanentconnection has been diificult. While this problem could be solved byproviding two distinct terminals, cost considerations as well as spacelimitations within the socket casing make this solution inadvisable.

An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal speciallydesigned to overcome the difiiculties outlined above. It is a specialfeature of the invention that it provides a dual lay-in terminal, theconductors being firmly held in place by separate connector boltscarried .by a common rotatable crosspiece which, through a uniquearrangement is capable of being locked in connecting position and isfirmly maintained therein by the engagement of the connector bolts withthe conductors. The terminal is fully capable of providing a firmconnection for conductors of different diameters and is adapted toreceive the conductors in a lay-in arrangement, the threading of theconductors into special eyes or apertures being unnecessary.

l A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a socket meter terminalof the character described in which the connector bolts serve not onlyto secure the conductors in place but also to assist in maintaining thecrosspiece in firmly interconnected condition with the other portions ofthe terminal.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a terminal to which theconductors can be quickly and easily con-- like parts in the variousviews:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevaadn (if a typical meter" socket whichincludes a terminal according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the terminal unattached to thesocket and with the conductors removed;

However, in known terminals, wherever there 2,947,967 Patented Aug. 2,1960 Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the terminal showing the crossbarrotated toward the open position, parts being broken away for purposesof illustration;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 is thedirection of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, I have chosen to illustrate my terminal as aground terminal for a conventional shell-like electric meter socketindicated generally at 10. As is usual the socket has a flat back wall11 on which are mounted insulating blocks 12 which carry jaw terminals13 for detachably receiving the bladesof a conventional electric meter(not shown). Since the details of construction of the meter socket playno part in my invention, only a portion of the socket has been shown.

The terminal according to my invention is indicated generally at 14 inFig. 1 and is detailed in the remaining figures. The main body of theterminal comprises a U-shaped structure which may be bent from a metalbar to provide a -flat bottom portion 15 flanked on either side byupwardly or outwardly projecting leg portions 16, 16. The bottom of theU-shaped structure is secured to the back wall of the socket by a centerpost 17 which extends through a central aperture in the bottom portion15 and acorresponding aperture in the back wall ('Figs. 4 and 5). Theend of the center post outside the back wall may be flattened as at 18to complete the attachment or alternatively it may be threaded and asecuring nut applied.

In the preferred embodiment the center post is located equidistantbetween the leg portions 16. Intermediate its ends the post is providedwith a medial portion of enlarged diameter, indicated at 17a. The lowerend of this medial portion forms an annular shoulder which engages andclamps to the bottom portion 15 a strip 19 of electrically conductivematerial (for example, copper). Preferably strip 19 is of equal areawith the area of the bottom portion 15 and it is cenerally apertured sothat the. lower end of the post extends therethrough.

'Rotatably and slidably mounted on the outer or free end of post 17 is acrosspiece or bar 20. Preferably crosspiece 20 comprises a rectangularbar centrally apertured to fit over the pin and to descend to a pointwhere it rests upon the upper annular shoulder provided by the enlargedmedial portion 17a of the post. The bar is of greater length than thespacing between the legs 16 of the U-shaped structure. During assemblythe crossbar is lowered on the post with the bar disposed at such anangle with the bottom portion 15 that there will be no interferencebetween the edges of the bar and the upstanding leg portion 16. (SeeFig. 3.) Near the opposite ends of the bar the respective edges of thebar are provided with notches 21 which are of slightly greater widththan the thickness of the leg portion and which cooperatewith'confronting notches 22 formed in the edges of the legs 16, so thatthe crosspiece can assume a position in which its long axis is normal tothe planes of the legs 16. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The width of notches 22is slightly greater than the thickness of the crosspiece 20. it will benoted. from Fig. 3 that the inboard edges of notches 21 are curvedslightlyas at 21a so as to providelhe necessary clearance permittingswinging of the crosspiece clockwise fromthe Fig. 3 position to the Pigs2 Position.

Carried by the crosspiece onopposite sides of the post 17 are thrust orclamping members in the form of threaded connector bolts 23, which arereceived in and extend through suitably tapped apertures in thecrosspiece. The connector bolts 23 preferably have slotted heads adaptedto receive the blade of a conventional screwdriver. The lower ends-ofthe bolts may be provided with pressure plates 24.

Reference numerals 25 and 26 indicate respectively the ground conductorsfor the load and feeder lines. To illustrate more clearly one of theprincipal features of my invention, I have shown these conductors asbeing of ditferent diameter, the conductor 25 being of greater diameterthan conductor 26.

In connecting the conductors to the terminal, the following procedure isemployed. With the crosspiece 20 moved to the position illustrated inFig. 3, it can be lifted off the post '17, thus exposing the bottomportion of the U-shaped structure. The bare wires of the conductors arethen laid on opposite sides of the center post. Following this, thecrosspiece is again engaged with the post, being lowered thereon untilit comes into contact with the annular shoulder at the upper end of themedial post portion 17a. Before lowering the crosspiece on the post theconnector bolts 23 should be threaded in a direction to raise thepressure plates 24 above the bottom portion 15, a distance greater thanthe diameter of the conductors.

Once the crosspiece is in the position illustrated in Fig.

3 with its lower surface in contact with the annular shoulder on medialportion 17a it is turned clockwise so that portions of thecrosspiecebecome engaged in notches 22 and the leg portions 16 becomeengaged in the notches 21. This position is illustrated in Fig. 2. Theconnector bolts 23 are then threaded downwardly until they come intocontact with the conductors, following which they are tightened to exerta firm clamping pressure thereon. The upward reaction on the crosspiececaused by tightening the connector bolts downwardly is resisted by theengagement of the crosspiece in notches 22 while any lateral or endwiseforces on the crosspiece are resisted by the engagement of portions ofthe legs in the notches 21 of the crosspiece. While the post '17 alsoserves to resist lateral movement it is preferred that the full load notbe taken by the post since undesirable bending might occur.

The interengagement of the end faces of the notches 21 and 22 indexesthe crossbar in the proper position. The connector bolts 23 and thetapped apertures in which they are received should be given a threadsuch that bolts will move downwardly when they are turned clockwise asviewed in Fig. 2. By arranging the thread direction in this manner theconnector bolts serve to exert a clockwise moment on the crosspiece 20as they are tightened against the conductors, this moment being due tothe diiferences in moment arm from the post 17 to the innermost andoutermost points on the thread. This thread arrangement also promotes inmoving the crosspiece from the Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 position as theconnector bolts are disengaged from the conductors.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have accomplished all ofthe ends and objectives hereinbefore set forth. The connectors can beeasily connected and disconnected from the terminal, the removal of onlyone crosspiece or retaining bar being required. The separate connectorbolts are adaptable to wires or conductors of widely varying diameter.The device requires a minimum number of parts and yet the conductors arepositively connected to the terminal and can be disconnected quickly andeasily.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombin-ations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a dual conductor terminal, a U-shaped structure comprising abottom portion and a pair of flanking upstanding leg portions, a postextending upwardly from the bottoni portion and spaced between the twoleg portions to permit a pair of conductors to be disposed against saidbottom portion, one on each side of the post, a crosspiece rotatablyfitted on the post above the conductors, a pair of connector boltsthreaded through said crosspiece, one on each side of said post, andhaving ends for engaging the conductors and compressing them against thebottom portions, said leg portions each on opposite edges a notchadapted to receive therein portions of said crosspiece but from whichsaid portions are disengageable upon rotation of the crosspiece in onedirection and reengageable upon rotation in the other direction.

2. A dual conductor terminal as in claim 1 wherein said crosspiece isslidable from the upper end of said post when said crosspiece isdisengaged from said notches.

3. In a dual conductor terminal, a U-shaped structure comprising abottom portion and a pair of flanking leg portions, oppositely facingedges of the respective leg portions each having a notch formed thereinat a level spaced above the bottom portion, a central post risingupwardly from said bottom portion intermediate said leg portions, across member of greater length than the span between said leg portions,said cross member centrally apertured and slidably and rotatably fittedon the post by means of the aperture, said cross member having portionsreceivable in said notches, which portions are disengageable from thenotches upon rotation of the crosspiece in one direction thereby topermit lifting of the cross member from the post, and a pair of thrustmembers carried by said cross member, one on each side of the post, saidthrust members having end portions confronting said bottom portion butspaced therefrom and operable to be moved downwardly relative thecrosspiece to releasably clamp conductors to the bottom portion.

4. A dual conductor terminal as in claim 3 wherein the crosspiece isprovided with second notches arranged to engage portions of said legportions when the cross member is engaged in the notches in saidlegportions.

5. A dual conductor terminal as in claim 3 wherein said post extendsthrough said bottom portion and is provided with a projecting endadapted for connecting the terminal to a base structure.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.20,7 Hagist July 5, 1938 480,810 Dowrlie Aug'. 16, 1892 530,166 DostDec. 4, 1894 2,634,475 Browne Apr. 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 208,496Great Britain Dec. 20, 1923 351,471 Germany Apr. 7, 1922 OTHERREFERENCES Electrical World (Magazine), page 120, Apr. 16, 1956. (Copyin Scientific Library.)

